Subject Areas and Training Directions

The SSU Academy provides professional training for officers of the Security Service of Ukraine.

Retraining of Operational Officers

Young SSU officers, upon completing civilian higher education institutions or higher military schools, are mandatorily sent to the Academy for six-month retraining courses.

During the training period, they study the legal and regulatory framework governing the activities of the Security Service units and acquire basic specialized knowledge and skills necessary for operational work.

Professional Development

The SSU Academy provides continuous education for the Security Service personnel. More than 100 training programs are offered to meet the needs of staff across all areas of the SSU operational and service activities.

Among the most popular ones are as follows:

OSINT Courses

The russian war against Ukraine involves not only combat operations in Eastern Ukraine but also constant large-scale information and cyber-attacks carried out by pro-russian bot networks in Ukraine’s and international information space. Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is intelligence gathered from publicly available sources. During these courses, SSU officers practice OSINT techniques and tools for searching information from open sources, verifying data accuracy, and debunking fake news.

Courses in Strategic Communications

The SSU Academy became the first platform in Ukraine to introduce, since 2016, a system of training courses in strategic communications involving the most respected experts. Training for information ‘anti-killers’ is conducted by leading linguists, journalists, political scientists, psychologists, diplomats, and lawyers.

The courses are aimed at implementing the Partnership Roadmap in the Field of Strategic Communications between the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the NATO International Secretariat.

Training of Polygraph Experts

The SSU Academy became the first higher education institution in Ukraine to receive a license from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in 2012 to train polygraph experts.

To equip future polygraph specialists with all necessary skills, a specially designed classroom with a multimedia interactive system has been arranged. The courses are taught by the best polygraph experts in the country. The training program includes classes in psychology, psychophysiology, law, and practical exercises in using the lie detector.

At the end of the course, participants would take a comprehensive exam and receive a state-recognized certificate.

Training of Negotiators

The training of professional negotiators is unique, focusing on practicing tactics for countering terrorist incidents under conditions as close to true-to-life scenarios as possible.

Classroom instruction accounts for only 20% of the training; the remaining time is devoted to practical skills development. In addition to core subjects, the courses cover communication psychology, with special attention to firearms training and tactical exercises. Experienced specialists from the SSU Special Operations Center ‘A’ and the SSU Anti-Terrorist Center are involved in conducting the abovementioned training.

Professional Development of the SSU Leadership and Reserve Officer Training

This area is aimed at improving theoretical and practical knowledge, skills, and competencies in managing official activities in accordance with the defined tasks and functions of SSU bodies (units).

Second Higher Education (Master’s Program)

At the Academy, it is possible to obtain a second higher education in the following specialties:

• K1 State Security (subject area – management in the field of state security)
• K3 National Security (subject area – ensuring state security in the field of information)

The second higher education is pursued as specialized training to improve professional skills or to acquire another speciality based on a previously obtained degree and practical experience. Upon completion of the program, participants are awarded a master’s degree. The study format is part-time.